by Seth Libby
“You do possess weapons, don’t you?” Cryta stated, no doubt in his voice.
“Yes,” the captain said sheepishly.
Cryta continued to stare at Frozt but otherwise said nothing. It was at this point Liam remembered something Cryta had said earlier.
“What are you doing in this system? You are traders by nature and from what Cryta has told me this area is not one of the trade routes for you merchants so there is no reason why you should be here. Also, come to think of it, what is your cargo? You nearly burned out your engines trying to get away from that Shenkar.”
The captain sighed heavily as he looked between the two before standing up.
“We are carrying energy rifles as well as ship parts. As for where we were going, there really isn’t any point of lying, we were headed to an asteroid base my people have set up outside of Shenkar space. I think at this point I believe they would lend their support, albeit, a meager one. If you wish I could guide you and you may meet with my superiors.”
Liam nodded and extended his hand, the Cathergon captain looked at the extended hand but did not move to accept it, instead a look of baffled look shown upon his face.
“It is a human tradition; you accept the preoffered hand in yours where you then shake them vertically. This signifies a sort of contract between the two participants that is formed,” Cryta explained.
Captain Frozt again looked at the extended hand before slowly extended his clawed hand to grip it. Liam shook the captains hand firmly then slowly released.
“I accept a meeting with your people although it should be with our official ambassador as he would be the one your superiors would want to conduct negotiations with.”
“Very well, Commander Brennan, notify your people they may meet with us at our base.”
A chime in Liam’s earpiece drew his attention. Reaching up he keyed the communication device.
“This is Brennan, go ahead.”
Steve’s muffled voice filled his ear.
“Commander, I have corrected the issue with the Cathergon drives engines. It was a burned out capacitor. The Cathergon freighter can power up their drives at any time now.” Steve explained, his voice sounding slightly strained.
“Excellent Lieutenant, meet us on the bridge, I need you to link the freighters navigation system with our own.”
There was a short pause before Steve responded, his voice sounding a bit strained.
“Yes commander, but could I make a run to the ship first? I need to take care of something.”
“I would rather this gets done right away, we need to get underway before the Shenkar come investigating why their destroyer hasn’t checked in.”
Silence filled the connection for several moments before Steve’s voice came again.
“I will be right there.”
January 26th, 2014 12:52am EST
Cathergon freighter, Farrow, Shenkar Federation space
Steve entered the bridge followed by his escort. Liam immediately noticed something off about Steve by the pale complextion and the sheen of sweat upon his face. As he drew closer, Liam also noticed several small red marks upon his face, but it was the smell that stood out the most as Steve came to stand before him. Involuntarily Liam’s hand covered his nose as Steve face dissolved into embarrassment.
“Um….Steve….did you…uh…lose bowel control?” Liam asked, his voice muffled by his hand.
But it wasn’t Steve who spoke, instead it was Cryta who spoke first.
“You were bitten by several Turrin weren’t you?”
Steve grimaced as a hand shifted to his lower intestine.
“Yes….and one very big ugly Turrin but they are all dead now,” Steve explained as he moved towards a nearby console.
“The bite of the Turrin is poisonous, nothing too deadly but enough to cause side effects. One of those side effects is the loss of bowel control but otherwise Lieutenant Barrow’s should be okay. The side effects should wear off in within twenty hours,” Cryta explained to Liam.
Liam looked over at his friend and thought of all the times his friend had given him a hard time with his smart-assed comments. Knowing Steve was going to be all right was probably what drove Liam to speak without thinking.
“So, in short, Steve pooped his pants?”
Steve stopped typing upon the console to look over at Liam.
“Oh, ha ha, funny guy!”
“So señor squishy pants, shall we get you some adult diapers?” asked Liam, a broad smile upon his face.
“You cut me deep Liam, you cut me deep,” Steve said over his shoulder as he continued to work.
Liam laughed as he turned back to Cryta.
“Do me a favor, could you run back to the ship and get a spare uniform from Lieutenant Barrows quarters so we can spare him the embarrassment of his situation with the rest of the crew.”
Cryta nodded and quickly left the bridge.
As Steve worked, Liam walked around the small bridge. The Cathergon bridge crew went about their business but on several occasions Liam caught several of the crew stealing quick glances at him when they thought he wasn’t aware.
A sound at the entrance to the bridge made Liam look around. Cryta returned carrying a uniform. Steve quickly walked over and took the uniform from Cryta before turning to Liam.
“Navigation systems have been linked, we can get underway anytime now. Do you need me for anything else or can I get cleaned up?”
“Yeah, that would be fine; I will see you back on the Poseidon.”
Steve quickly, albeit awkwardly, walked off the bridge taking the smell and Cryta with him. Once the two had left the bridge,with their escort in tow, Liam turned back to the captain.
“Now we go to this asteroid base you mentioned.”
The captain nodded nervously but otherwise said nothing else. Holding the captains gaze for a few moments longer, Liam then turned and left the bridge. The sounds of of his escorts footsteps sounded behind him as the guard ran to catch up with Liam. Liam did not slow as he knew the way back to the airlock where the docking tube was connected.
January 26th, 2014 1:18am EST
EDF Poseidon, Shenkar Federation space
“Communications get me the Kraken, tell them I need to speak with Admiral Kelvin as soon as possible,” Liam said as he marched onto the bridge.
Taking his seat in his command chair, he activated his personal tactical display. The latest telemetry revealed the Cathergon freighter was well underway and headed further out into deep space, away from the Shenkar held space. He wondered again if made a mistake in intervening, their whole mission depended on them reaching Lykaa and destroying the clone facility. He only hoped that he had not overstepped his authority either by arranging this meeting. This would bring the humans forces in this sector to where the Shenkar could ambush them if they were informed. Liam’s thoughts were interrupted by Leah addressing him from the communications station.
“Commander, I have Admiral Kelvin and Captain Dunklin on the line for you, you can take it anytime you are ready.”
Liam took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he keyed his personal commset.
“This is Commander Brennan, I have you on a secured channel, we have encountered a unique situation that I felt you two should be apprised of.”
Liam proceeded to explain the situation in detail, from his intervention and subsequent destruction of the Shenkar destroyer to his arranged meeting with the Cathergons. He missed no detail in regards to his interpretation of the new race and what they could bring to the table as well as the information Cryta had provided him. The whole time, both Admiral Kelvin and Captain Dunklin remained silent, except when they needed some further details, until finally Liam had finished his story.
“I am not going to lie, I probably would have questioned whether we should have intervened. This mission is just too important to run that risk and we have to insure we can contact the Lykaans without a hitch. ” stated Captain Dunklin.
“I do not disagree with the captain but I personally would have done the exact same thing as you did, Commander. Either way, at this point we are in all the way so we will meet you at the specified coordinates. We will get underway in the next few minutes and meet you there,” Admiral Kelvin explained.
“Thank you sirs, will you be coming with the Kraken or using one of the frigates?”
“Oh, I think if want to show them what we are capable of then we need to show them what the Shenkar will be facing,” Captain Dunklin explained, not confirming nor denying they would be arriving in the Kraken.
January 26th, 2014 3:28am EST
EDF Poseidon, unknown region of space
The Poseidon had been following the Cathergon freighter for a little more than two hours when they arrived at a massive asteroid field. Liam could understand why the Cathergons had chosen this area of space for their base. Scans revealed nothing special about the area, no planetoids nor was there any star nearby. From what he knew of the Shenkar they would have surveyed this area long ago and finding nothing would have not wasted any further resources.
“Commander, the Cathergon freighter is slowing. I am also intercepting a transmission from the freighter beamed into the asteroid field,” Steve said from operations station.
“Helm, bring us along side of the freighter.”
The bridge remained silent as the minutes ticked by, awaiting something from the freighter.
It was Steve who once again broke the silence.
“Commander, I am picking up movement within the asteroid field.”
“Tactical, what do we have out there?” Liam asked.
Callen keyed the holographic display which created a three dimensional display of the area around the frigate. Displayed in the center was the Cathergon freighter and the Poseidon, just forward of them several images shown of asteroids. Beside one of the largest asteroids revealed the new addition. The ship was larger than the freighter but smaller than their own frigate.
“New signature is nothing we have on file but preliminary scans indicate the ship is equal to a corvette class warship. I am detecting light energy cannons and one torpedo launcher, nothing the Poseidon could not defeat if necessary,” Callen explained as he studied the display.
Just as Callen completed his sentence something drew his attention back to his console. Callen studied it for a few moments, his forehead furrowing, his expression growing grim.
“Commander, it seems I have spoken too soon, I am detecting new signatures….many more signatures, all corvette class,” Callen explained as he worked the keeps on his console.
Moments later the area surrounding them upon the holographic display shown with several more signatures. Seventeen more signatures moved from the asteroid field to surround them.
“Commander, I am not detecting any shields but it seems they have some sort of ablative armor. I am detecting weapons lock upon us and their weapons are charged.”
Liam studied the display before him for a few moments before looking to his tactical station.
“What are our chances if this turns ugly?”
Callens face was grim when he looked up.
“We could defeat,maybe at most, five but eighteen is just too much.”
“Commander, I am intercepting a transmission between the freighter and the lead warship. It seems Captain Frozt is arguing in our favor but the captain of the lead warship is calling him a traitor to his kind,” explained Leah from the communications station.
“Commander, shall I power up the shields?” Callen inquired.
“No, that could just provoke them into thinking we are here to do them harm. Keep an eye on their weapon systems, if you detect any energy spikes indicating they are about to fire then bring the shields online. I know they wouldn’t power up to full strength before we were hit but it might be enough for us to get out of here.”
The moments passed by as they awaited some sort of response for their intrusion into this area of space.
“Commander, I am receiving a transmission from the captain of the lead warship,” stated Leah. “He wishes to discuss the terms of our surrender,” she explained, surprise upon her face.
“Tactical, power up the shields but do not arm our weapons. Comm station, put me on with the captain for everyone to hear.”
Leah tapped a few keys and then nodded to Liam to go ahead.
“This is Commander Brennan of the EDF Poseidon; I wish to speak with the captain in regards to his demands.”
A scratchy voice responded almost immediately, heavy with disdain.
“This is High Captain Betz, you are completely surrounded. If you wish to live, you will drop your shields, and surrender yourself to us immediately. I promise you will come to no harm until you are fairly tried before the council.”
“High Captain Betz, I believe there has been some misunderstanding, we were invited here by one of your brethren, the captain of the Farrow. If they haven’t explained already, we have already engaged and destroyed one Shenkar destroyer, so I can assure you we are not your enemy.”
“Yes, I have heard of this convenient victory but I do not believe it. Oh, I believe you destroyed a ship but I know how tricky the Shenkar can be when they wish to root out information.”
Before Liam could respond, Cryta’s voice spoke loud and clear.
“High Captain, if you believe that then you truly do not know the Shenkar. They would not go to such lengths to root out information but instead would simply torture it from you.”
“Oh, I think I know them better than you humans, we have been under their rule for a very long time.”
Liam held up a hand for Cryta to keep silent as he spoke.
“High Captain, you do not have all the information then…the one who just addressed you was none other than a Shenkar so I believe he can say what they would do. His name is Cryta and he is of the elite but I can assure you he does not wish you harm. He in fact seeks your help, as we do, to help us remove the Shelecore and his council from power.”
“The captain of the Farrow explained your supposed request and I find the presence of a Shenkar elite aboard your vessel a bit disturbing. Captain Frozt might have been fooled by your supposed rescue of his ship but I find it rather convenient that you came along at the time you did to rescue him. I think the Shenkar have heard rumors of small battle group and came looking so they can crush us.”
“Captain, listen to yourself, if the Shenkar heard rumors of this battle groups existence do you really think they would send only one ship? A warship, that you do not have in your database, commanded by a race that is not part of the Shenkar Federation.”
There was a slight hesitation before he received a response and Liam noticed some of the fire had left the High Captains voice.
“You say you are of a race we do not know but how do I know you did not coerce Captain Frozt into saying this?”
“High Captain, do you have capability to transmit live video? If so we can connect and you can see I am not of the Shenkar Federation.”
Silence once again met Liam’s response for several moments.
“How convenient that you ask that of us which we cannot do. If you have been aboard the Farrow then you will know the freighter is carrying the parts to give our ships that ability.”
Liam sighed, leaning his head down a bit as he reached up to rub his forehead.
“Then perhaps you would allow me to come aboard your ship so you may see for yourself…” began Liam.
“Oh, I do not think so, you could be carrying a bomb to try and use me as a hostage to protect your own ship,” the High Captain cut in.
Steve waved for Liam’s attention then pointed down to the display before him. Nodding in understanding, he typed a message on his command chair, routing it to the communciations station. Leah read the message and typed a few keys before giving Liam the thumbs up. Only then, did he return his attention to the High Captain.
“High Captain, I suggest you order your shi
ps to stand down so we can discuss this more civily. I do not wish for you or any of your people to come to harm but if you fire upon our vessel then my people will be forced to destroy you.”
“Please Commander Brennan, do not make threats you cannot enforce. I am well aware your ship is stronger and could destroy one of my ships in one on one combat but we are not alone and you cannot possibly defeat all of us by yourself,” retorted the high caption, his voice full of mirth.
“Yes, you would be correct in that but I can assure you we are not alone,” said Liam, as he touched the panel on the arm of his command chair, changing his communication frequency.
“This is Commander Brennan, have you been listening?”
Liam listened to the response and a crooked smile formed on his face at what he heard. Switching back to the High Captain’s frequency he spoke.
“High Captain Betz, let me introduce you to some of my compatriots.”
January 26th, 2014 3:38am EST
Cathergon corvette, Daystar
Proximity alarms sounded throughout the bridge as crew members scrambled about.
“High Captain, a ship has appeared in sector eighty eight, scans indicate it is of unknown configuration and is more heavily armed than all of our ships combined,” explained his operations officer, his voice showing clear signs of panic.
The High Captain studied the tactical display; the new warship was larger than anything he had ever seen within the Shenkar fleet. He also confirmed what his operations officer had stated…..his entire fleet would be destroyed if they attacked this warship.
“High Captain, I have Commander Brennan on the line, he wishes to speak with you,” stated his communications officer.
Betz indicated for his communications officer to connect him before speaking.
“Commander Brennan, you have left me no option, what are your terms for my surrender?”
“Captain Betz, as I said before, I am not here as your enemy so there is no need to discuss terms of surrender. My people are enemies with the Shelecore and wish to remove him from power. What I do want of you is to meet with you and your commanders so we might come to a mutual agreement. One that benefits both of our people and also sees your people free, is this something we can discuss?”